Two Bradford men have been given community penalties for their roles in a gang described as "latter-day highwaymen" for their raids on parked lorries.

Ghani Akhbar, 28, of Raglan Terrace, Bradford, received a 12-month suspended sentence and Rizwan Hussain, 27, of Barkerend Road, Bradford, received a 51-week suspended sentence.

Both were ordered to complete 240 hours' unpaid work and comply with an 8pm to 6am curfew for six months.

They were part of a ten-strong gang which carried out night-time raids on parked lorries in Cambridgeshire while drivers slept in the cabs.

Having driven from their homes in Leeds and Bradford the men targeted lorries in lay-bys along the A1 and A14, slashing their way in with knives.

At Peterborough Crown Court yesterday John Farmer, prosecuting, said: "I see them as latter-day highwaymen. They would drive by night along major roads and steal from heavy goods vehicles parked overnight. The lorry drivers were often asleep in the cab at the time."

The gang struck overnight on June 7, 2005, in an A14 lay-by close to Cambridge Crematorium, stealing three mattresses from a lorry.

That same night they also slashed open the side of an articulated lorry carrying Yamaha motorbikes in a layby on the A1, but they did not steal any of the motorbikes.

On August 27 the same year they slashed open trailers on the A14 at Hemingford Grey, causing extensive damage, but found nothing of value to steal.

They were eventually caught when they were spotted by a passing police patrol.

Following their arrests, some of the gang claimed they had travelled from Yorkshire to visit a curry house in Peterborough - an alibi disproved by city CCTV cameras, which found no trace of the men.

Two of the men gave false names, and one of the accused resorted to eating his mobile phone sim card in a bid to conceal evidence.

Having all entered guilty pleas for charges of conspiracy to steal, the men were in court for sentencing.

Judge Nicholas Coleman said: "The overwhelming evidence in this case is that these were not opportunist acts but expeditions to steal. These were acts of villainy by people targeting vul-nerable parked lorries as their drivers slept."

Five of the gang, all from Leeds, received prison terms.

Sean Morgan, 39, and Philip Loftus, 27, received two years. Dean Clark, 27, and Jamie Gallagher, 22, were sentenced to 20 months. Michael McCormack, 28, received 12 months.

All five will serve half of their sentences.

Robert Millar, 40, from Leeds, David Whitely, 27, from Leeds, and Jonathon McCormack, 23, from Leeds, all received 51 week suspended sentences and were ordered to complete 240 hours' unpaid work and comply with an 8pm to 6am curfew for six months.